** LiteSpeed Settings Updated & Revised **
** Under Revision... **
So why LiteSpeed Cache?
LiteSpeed Caches pages and assets at the server level, which means that visitors can access the cached content without having to wait for the server to generate it. This can result in significant performance improvements, with some users reporting up to 10x faster load times.
LiteSpeed Cache also offers a range of features designed to further improve website performance, such as image optimization, minification of CSS and JavaScript files, and automatic cache purging when content is updated. These features can help reduce the size of web pages, which in turn reduces load times and improves the user experience. Below is a short list of general options.
Some features may be used by anyone with any web server (LiteSpeed, Apache, NGINX, etc.). But to get the most powerful features your website must be hosted on a LiteSpeed Server. Why?
- Free QUIC.cloud CDN Cache
- Object Cache (Memcached/LSMCD/Redis) Support
- Image Optimization (Lossless/Lossy)
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML
- Minify inline & external CSS/JS
- Combine CSS/JS
- Automatically generate Critical CSS
- Lazy-load images/iframes
- Responsive Image Placeholders
- Multiple CDN Support
- Load CSS Asynchronously
- Defer/delay JS loading
- Browser Cache Support
- Database Cleaner and Optimizer
- PageSpeed score (including Core Web Vitals) optimization
- OPcode Cache Support
- HTTP/2 Push for CSS/JS (on web servers that support it)
- DNS Prefetch
- Cloudflare API
- Single Site and Multisite (Network) support
- Import/Export settings
- Attractive, easy-to-understand interface
- WebP image format support
- Heartbeat Control
- Automatic page caching to greatly improve site performance
- Automatic purge of related pages based on certain events
- Private cache for logged-in users
- Caching of WordPress REST API calls
- Separate caching of desktop and mobile views
- Ability to schedule purge for specified URLs
- WooCommerce and bbPress support
- WordPress CLI commands
- API system for easy cache integration
- Exclude from cache by URI, Category, Tag, Cookie, User Agent
- Smart preload crawler with support for SEO-friendly sitemap
- Multiple crawlers for cache varies
- HTTP/2 support
- HTTP/3 & QUIC support
- ESI (Edge Side Includes) support*
- Widgets and Shortcodes as ESI blocks* (requires Classic Widgets plugin for WP 5.8+)
LiteSpeed Cache Settings for Voxel
The following settings are with the LiteSpeed™ Web Server. There may be some settings that may cause compatibility issues with some 3rd-party plugins you may have installed. Feel free to reach out to me so I can help you out. You can also use these settings for themes other than Voxel, but Voxel rocks! So why would you? However, make sure to test if you decide to go with another WordPress Theme.
Note: Always test your website when using any caching plugin.
Revised Settings
I revised the settings as Voxel added more features, but mostly because many of you have different hosting environments that cause caching issues from the start (We are looking at you SiteGround).
Some web hosts like adding their own WordPress caching features, but those should be optional since themes and plugins differ. I am with a2Hosting, and they offer a caching plugin that I don’t use because it is really a general optimization plugin. That’s why I like plugins like WP Rocket and, of course, LiteSpeed cache (LSCache).
The LiteSpeed cache lets me get specific with what I want to cache or optimize. That also means things must get tested every time you enable or disable a feature.
With the following settings, please help me test in your hosting environment so I can get even more specific with the settings based on Voxel and the web host.
Note: You should only enable caching and optimization once your website is in production. That way, you don’t get frustrated when you make changes to your website and can’t see the updated content. You can also use my Chrome browser plugin to help troubleshoot. (Please rate if you can.)
Settings with the (*) means it’s kind of optional…
Before you start...
Before using any caching or optimization plugin, you should finish developing and designing your website. That way, you can immediately see any changes you make without clearing your cache constantly.
Once you do launch and have everything cached and need to make changes, you can clear your cache easily, but you should do it by clearing the cache of that page you updated and not the whole website. You can also install a Chrome extension I created that easily opens an un-optimized page so you can see the changes there.
Abbreviations for reference:
LSCashe (LSC) = LiteSpeed Cache
QUIC = QUIC.cloud CDN
Verify web server
We also have to check if your website is hosted on a LiteSpeed server. Not because the LSCache plugin will not work. But you will not get most of the features and benefits unless your website is on a LiteSpeed web server.
Prerequisite FAQ
It is possible to use the LSCache plugin for WordPress without a LiteSpeed server?
Yes. However, you will only access to the optimization features. The caching functions require the LSCache server component to work.
none of the plugin’s caching functionality will be available to you. You are free to use all of the optimization features, but caching does not work without a LiteSpeed server or QUIC.cloud CDN.
My web host offers OpenLiteSpeed. Is that the same?
OpenLiteSpeed is the open-sourced version of the caching engine. It is powerful. However, it does not have the completely powerful cache engine. It is not fully Apache-compatible. OpenLiteSpeed is also missing many of the optimization options that is offered in the Enterprise version.
The Enterprise version is a drop-in for Apache. You can see a comparison chart below. My settings for Voxel are with the LiteSpeed Enterprise version.
I already have a caching plugin. Can I use that also?
You should not use another caching and optimization plugin while using LSCache. Before you start the setup make sure to clear your current plugin’s cache, and deactivate the plugin.
How about using Cloudflare with LSCache
You can use Cloudflare for its CDN but make sure to disable the APO because of compatibility issues. You can also use the Cloudflare DNS.
What about OpenLiteSpeed?
OpenLiteSpeed -vs- LiteSpeed Enterprise
OpenLiteSpeed -vs- 
LiteSpeed Enterprise| Features | <img src="https://binaryblackboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/OpenLiteSpeed.png" alt="OpenLiteSpeed" width="30" height="30" /> OpenLiteSpeed | <img src="https://binaryblackboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LiteSpeed-Enterprise.png" width="30" height="30" /> LiteSpeed Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Cache Engine | Powerful cache engine | More Powerful cache engine with remote caching |
| Apache Compatibility | Apache-compatible rewrite rules | Full Apache compatibility |
| Optimized mod_security engine | ||
| Reads Apache's configuration files directly | ||
| <a href="https://www.litespeedtech.com/products/features/edge-side-includes" target="_blank"> ESI (Edge Side Includes) | Limited | Full support |
| Full .htaccess support | ||
| Object Caching | Basic | Advanced |
| Geo-Location Based Actions | Limited | Full |
| Image Optimization | Basic (via plugin) | Advanced (QUIC.cloud & plugin) |
| <a href="https://www.litespeedtech.com/support/wiki/doku.php/litespeed_wiki:lslb:wordpress-protection" target="_blank">WordPress Brute Force Attacks Protection | ||
| <a href="https://www.litespeedtech.com/products/litespeed-web-server/features/zero-downtime-server-management" target="_blank">Zero downtime server software upgrade | ||
| Anti-DDoS Features | Basic | Advanced |
| Geo-Location Based Actions | Limited | Full |
| Image Optimization | Basic (via Plugins) | Advanced (QUIC.cloud & Plugins) |
| Object Caching | Basic | Advanced |
LiteSpeed Cache Version: 5.7.0.1
Of course, not all websites are the same. In fact, after going through many settings and as I learned more and more, I can only give a general recommendation because other than all websites being different, the hosting also has a lot to do with it. Also, some of you may be on a LiteSpeed web server but on the OpenLiteSpeed, which differs from the Enterprise edition.
If you want to know more, please comment at the bottom of this post or contact me anytime! I do offer optimization services. How I charge is: The number of coffees you buy me depends on how much improvement I have made on your website’s performance. (That sounded fair. You literally pay for what you get)
General Settings
General Settings Tab
Guest Mode
Guest mode will not work the same for everyone. Especially for many on shared hosting who deactivate the ability to crawl your website because it uses a lot of server resources. That is why I love the VPS with my web host.
Note: Doesn’t work with all web servers. Under this setting is a confirmation feature.
Guest Optimization
In the past, I have recommended you leave this off, but if you are able to connect to QUIC.cloud and also know which files to exclude from caching, then this will dramatically increase the speed of your website A LOT!
Note: This option defaults to ON, but it requires Guest Mode to be enabled. If Guest Mode is OFF, then the Guest Optimization setting will be ignored.
If you are not a QUIC.cloud user and you don’t have a Domain Key, then Guest Optimization will continue without CCSS or UCSS. (This is functional, but not exactly “maximum.”)
Cache Settings
Cache Tab
Enable Cache
Of course
Cache Logged-in Users
In the past I have recommended you leave this on if you are able to connect to QUIC.cloud and also know which files to exclude from caching, Still working on that, but it should be: “app-events.js”. I also added “/auth/” to the cache exclude.
Files you may need to exclude from caching & optimization:
– app-events.js
– notifications.js
etc.
URLs or slugs you may want to exclude from caching under “Do Not Cache URIs”. Examples:
– /auth/
– /dashboard/
etc.
Cache Commenters
Since Voxel doesn’t use the built-in WordPress commenting system, then this won’t really do anything. I put “maybe” in case you do somehow add the built-in commenting.
Cache REST API
Unless this is specifically causing any issues, this can just stay on.
Cache Login Page
I guess to be on the safe side you can turn this off. I personally leave it on and just add any files I need to exclude that is used by a logged in user. For example the notifications. If you have issues with that then you can always add the javascript for notifications to the exclude setting.
Cache favicon.ico
Sure, why not eliminate a PHP request.
Cache PHP Resources
Yes, you read that correctly, it caches PHP resources. Fewer PHP calls.
Cache Mobile
This is only for those who basically use a different template for mobile. But most themes just use responsive layouts.
Purge Tab
Purge All On Upgrade
Definitely want this on. It will purge the cache every time there is an update by Themes, Plugins, or WordPress itself.
Auto Purge Rules For Publish/Update
I check the following: Front page, Home page, Pages, All pages with Recent Posts Widget, Author archive, Post type archive, Monthly archive, Term archive (include category, tag, and tax).
Serve Stale
Not a good thing to turn on with a website that serves a lot of dynamic data.
Excludes Tab
Do Not Cache URIs
In this area, I like to put those URIs that I want to make sure I don’t have issues with caching or optimizations. More info.
For example:
/auth/
/cart/
/checkout/
/dashboard/
/my-account/
etc…
Do Not Cache Query Strings
Pages that are unique depending on query parameters. More info.
For example:
?vx=1
?utm_source=
?fbclid=
etc…
Do Not Cache Categories
If you have certain category pages that you don’t want to cache, you can list them here. This can be useful if the content in these categories changes frequently. More info.
For example:
latest-deals
daily-deals
etc…
Do Not Cache Tags
Certain tags you don’t want to cache. More info.
For example:
latest
limited-time-offer
etc…
Do Not Cache Cookies
If you have cookies that are used to personalize content. When these cookies are present, you may not want to serve cached pages. This shouldn’t really be a problem. Note: This option can be more far-reaching than you may realize. If you exclude a cookie that exists on every page of your site, then you are essentially excluding your entire site from being cached. More info.
For example:
recently_viewed
session_id
wp-auth_
etc…
Do Not Cache User Agents
In this area, I like to put those URIs that I want to make sure I don’t have issues with caching or optimizations. More info.
For example:
Google Bot
Bing Bot
etc…
Do Not Cache Roles
There may be user roles that you wish to exclude from caching. A good idea is to check the administrator until after you are done setting things up. More info.
None
(Maybe Admin while you are setting things up)
16 Comments
follow these settings but there were some conflicts with the theme.. For example, the filters button is no longer clickable.
HI, thank you for your comment. this is the best way for me to make sure my posts are still accurate as Voxel continues to update their theme, I can then update my posts. Is the issue with the filter fields? Or the filter submit button?
Thanks for answering… I’m still in localhost production environment… but when activating the plugin no filter works, both the Toogle button to access the filters popup and the filters buttons in the popup line don’t open. I don’t know if you understood well because I’m using google translate to translate
No worries. Can you show me if it happens on our Voxel test site? https://www.binaryblackboard.a2hosted.com
Hi, great setup! I encountered these issues:
1. Doesn’t load images in timeline widget.
2. Doesn’t load footer properly.
Any ideas how to fix it?
Hi, thank you for your comment.
1. Can you please give me the link to where the timeline widget is placed.
2. What is the footer doing?
Yes I can, where I should send the details?
You can just send it through our contact page. Use the email you used on this comment so I know it’s from you.
Hello,
After configuring your settings, the filters in the Dashboard for the ads section no longer work.
Could you please check on your side?
Hi,
Which ads network are you using? I can show you how to fix that.
Sorry Richard, I’m not very comfortable with English.
I wanted to talk about ads for places, events and jobs. The filter is frozen after full configuration of Litespeed Cache.
I was able to solve the problem by deactivating the cache on the “My Listing” page, for example.
If it’s the filters you are having issues with, you can fix this by excluding the JavaScript files used by the filter. I’m adding a link to a screenshot of the settings where you will add the JavaScript file name of the filter which is “search-form.js”
https://binaryblackboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LiteSpeed-Settings.png
Please let me know if this works.
Make sure to clear all cache after adding that file name to the exclude
I’ve added the information, but it doesn’t solve my problem of non-functional filters.
Viéo screen : https://drive.google.com/file/d/19eBFI7gBUIm64nTgPXcHhCuyaphF0r9_/view?usp=sharing
Make sure to clear all of the caches in the Toolbox settings. Also, do you have “Guest Optimization” enabled? You can email me at richard@binaryblackboard.com
Thanks, I’ll e-mail you right away.